Police are at a home this evening following the death. They were supporting the family of the child and investigating the death on behalf of the coroner.

Police are after a "short, tubby" middle-aged man who indecently assaulted a 14-year-old girl near a school today.

A rescue helicopter was called to the scene, but was diverted elsewhere when the man was confirmed dead.

An attempt to recover a ship that sank off the Canterbury coast last October with the loss of three lives will be made this weekend.

Gerry Brownlee has had a portfolio renamed to reflect Christchurch's move from post-earthquake "recovery" to "regeneration".

Her mother, aunt and grandmother died of breast cancer. Samantha Pooke is opting for surgery to ensure she survives.

Victims were threatened with weapons during two separate early-morning home invasions in Canterbury overnight.

First Direct Taxis has said it will review its supply arrangements after a Christchurch wheelchair user was left stranded at the airport, despite booking in advance.

A Christchurch lifeguard could only watch in horror as a cliff began to collapse just above the youngsters he was supervising - including his son.

Valentine Day's rumble jolts Christchurch ahead of anniversary of deadly 2011 earthquake.

Inspections around the Canterbury region will see exactly how much damage has been done in the wake of yet another strong quake.

Becky Gane lost her husband in the 2011 quake. Yesterday's shake took her straight back to that day.

Environment Canterbury is standing by its decision not to fine or prosecute Chief Justice Dame Sian Elias and her businessman husband Hugh Fletcher after photos emerged of their cattle drinking out of a North Canterbury lake.

The newly appointed vice-chancellor at Canterbury's Lincoln University says he wanted to find out more about the tertiary institution before he took on the job.

A fire which ripped through a property in Canterbury could have led to more tragic consequences had those inside not woken up to the sound of windows smashing.

A light plane crashed near Sheffield in Canterbury after the pilot misjudged the landing.

Two seriously injured young children crawled to safety as their father lay dead in their car after a crash on Ashburton Gorge Rd last night.

Staff at a school in Canterbury used the school's defibrillator to help one of their colleagues who collapsed this morning.

LANGUAGE WARNING: Three offensive place names could be taken off maps if the public backs a proposal.

Police are on the hunt for burglars who nicked firearms from South Canterbury properties and hold concerns for the safety of anyone who uses a defective gun among the loot.

Officers are looking into how prills of DDT and arsenic came to be in a Canterbury river.

Police are conducting a scene examination after a man was hit by a train and killed in Canterbury.

Cantabrians making the most of the warmer temperatures are being reminded to keep their houses securely locked up.

New Zealand Cup and Show week was previewed in Christchurch yesterday with a business breakfast to celebrate the annual event's influence in the region.

The Mackenzie Country is full of photo opportunities. Megan Singleton finds five of the most scenic.

South Islanders can be forgiven for thinking they're already in the middle of summer.

An extensive search of difficult terrain has failed to throw up any clues to the whereabouts of a missing Canterbury man.

A blaze the size of three rugby fields was battled by 18 crews last night at the edge of the Ashly Forest in Canterbury.

They are urging anyone who has seen or heard from Raymond Finnie since September 25 to get in touch.